Furnace



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E. P. EDGAR.

FURNAGE.

10.402,3514.' 'PatentedApln so', 1889,.

INVEN-TOR.

WlnvE SES.- l A 5M I v ATTORNEY,

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IFURNAGB.

No. 402,514. Patented Apr.' 30, 1889.

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l UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIS F. EDGAR, OF VVOODBRIDGE, NEV JERSEY.

FU RNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part ef Lettere Patent Ne. 402,514, aetea April eo, 1889.

Application iiled January 12, 1889. Serial No. 296,130. (No model.) y

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLIS F. EDGAR, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Woodbridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the same, in which- 'l Figure l is a side elevation offa locomotive boiler and furnace to 'which my invention has been applied, part of the wall being broken away to more clearly exhibit its peculiar features. Fig. '2 is a vertical cross sectional view on line ma, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the attachment, (partly in section,) the combination of which with the boiler constitutes my invention as to apparatus, and by the `use of whichkmy new process may be practiced. Fig. 4 is aV view, also in perspective and with parts broken away',

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the fire-box of said stove. Fig. 6 is a central vertical crosssectional view of said fire-box. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a base-burning self-feeding parlor-stove, the novel arrangement of the interior being shown Vin section. Fig. S is a plan 'view of the supporting disk of said stove, and Fig. 9 is a similar view of the airdistributer located within said stove.

My invention' relates to furnaces and stoves adapted to burn coal; and it consists in the devices and combinations vof devices hereinafter set forth. In the majority of apparatus at present used for producing heat by the combustion of coal and similar fuel muchof the gas and unconsumed matter rising from the surface of the body of coal under'consumption passes off into the pipe or chimney without being burned, which is a source of great waste. The present theory is that this is Vcaused by the lack of additional air (or oxygen) supplied at the proper point and in the proper manner and quantity to combine with said unconsumed matter and result in the complete utilization of the fuel, and this is to some eX tent true; butv it is also true that not only must additional air be furnished, but it must be furnished in proper distribution, and there must also be provision made for igniting the combination to produce the best results; and it is in the direction of these two features that the principal novelties lie, the remainder consisting of conveniences for carrying out these principal purposes.

In the drawings, F is the fire boX or space of the apparatus. In'Fig. 'l it isprovided with ordinary grate-bars, G, and door D, ine deed is identical with well-known apparatus.

Within this space and between the grate for the coal C and the draft-exit E (here located above the coal) is placed a support, S, made of incombustible material, which may be a perforated diaphragm, as shown, supported by side pieces, the only requirements being that it shall permit the passage of gases from one side to the other, (here the lower side to the upper,) either through its perforations or between its bars, and shall be capable of supporting refractory material B, about to be de- I scribed. Upon this support I place aquantity of a cookingestove fitted with said apparatus.

of incombustible material, formed or broken into small pieces of such shape that when heaped or arranged together there will be interstices between them for the passage of gas. I select material that may be raised above or to a red heat without injury, fire-clay balls B vdecreasing in size from the bottom to the top of the mass being preferable. Through this mass of clay balls air-conduits A extend, usually from one side to the other, being connected at the ends by a general conduit, A, opening into A ,and also into the outer air or into the ash-pit. These conduits A are perforated, preferably at the sides, with small apertures a, opening within the mass of clay balls in what I term the combining-chamber of the apparatus. Such arrangement insures even and general distribution of air through'the mass of refractory material B, which may be controlled bya damper, as shown in Fig. 7, if desired. It is found best that air should be introduced by these means directly into the mass of refractory material B, and there combined with the gases and matter passing through said ma from s, as in this way a very small quantityof air is met by a small quantity of gas inthe interstices between refractory material B. The combustion is instantaneous, perfect, and easily regulated as to. proportions,withno danger of explosion when IOO ignited, when, if air were forced into a considerable open space, there combined with said gases, and then passed through a mass of heated balls, the combustion would be imperfect, the regulation difficult, and the operation attended with some degree of danger.

In locomotive and marine boilers I usually cover the mass of refractory material B with a second diaphragm, S', also perforated, for the purpose of preventing refractory material B from being drawn out of the stack by the great draft. The fuel may be introduced through door D in the usual manner.

The arrangement in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 is substantially Similar, the variation being in making the grate or fire-basket in the form of a drawer, that it may be opened to add fuel to the fire, and the conduit A is extended along the front and rear; butthe fuel might readily be supplied through a door, as in the case of the furnace, or arranged with a slanting grate having an opening for the introduction of fuel above it. In Fig. 7, to adapt the apparatus to a selffeeder, I show a disk or damper, D', upon a short post or rod, R, and above this a cone, C', provided with openings at the base, registering with those of D' and others in its side walls. Its base projects sufficiently to sustain a circular grate, G, which, as well as D', I provide with handles H. From the walls of the stove I suspend a circular lining, which, being double, forms an air-conduit, A2, and other conduits, A3 and A4, crosswise and circular, all connecting, are combined therewith.

A2 is provided with a damper, d, preferably upon its outer wall, that `it may not permit draft from the coal iire through A2, and its base-wall projects inward, forming a rim, which supports the hollow truncated coneshaped perforated support S2, which surrounds the reservoir for the coal and supports the balls B, already described, substantially as S does in the other forms of apparatus.

The whole apparatus might be supported from the bottom or top, or by a tripod suspended from lugs on the frame; but I prefer the arrangement shown, and I also prefer to have the grate somewhat lower than the base of conduit A2, as thereby the formation of clinker is largely avoided, and what is formed (if any) may be easily removed.

Coal being introduced into its appropriate space and fired, the heat therefrom passing through 8 and the interstices between refractory material B in its natural course quickly raises them to a high degree of heat. Then air being admitted through its vconduits combines with the gases, and particles of unconsumed matter passing between refractory material B is instantly ignited by the heat of refractory material B and produces more heat, every particle being thereby consumed and none permitted to escape and be wasted. Then fresh fuel is added in ordinary apparatus much smoke arises, and there is a temporary lowering of the temperature, but in 'larger size at the bottom (or next the coalspace) than at the top, (or farthest from it,) as I thereby permit free combination at the bottom, and, as it were, check the escape at the top or toward it sufficiently to insure the ignition of the entire combined fuel and air.

I have found by actual experiment that a high heat may be maintained for a much longer period with a given quantity of coal with this apparatus used in this method than by any other known to me, and for many purposes-such as broiling-the heat from the incandescent balls is much superior to that obtained directly from a mass of consuming coal.

The herein-described method or process for heating purposes is not claimed in the present application, but forms the subject-matter of an application filed by me February 21, 1889, Serial No. 300,693.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a furnace for burning carbonaceous material, of a chamber subdivided by perforated hollow partitions, whereby the airis finely divided and heated, the chamber formed by the hollow perforated partitions having a perforated bottom adapted to hold incombustible refractory material, and means for heating', conveying, and distributing air to the same, as set forth.

2. The combination, in a furnace for burning carbonaceous material, of a mass of refractory incombustible material, perforated air-chambers located within the body of said material, a support for the refractory material, and means for supplying air thereto and evenly distributing the same, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a furnace, of a perforated plate over the fuel, a mass of refractory incombustible material supported by said perforated plate, an air-passage interposed between the perforated plate and the refractory material, and side air-passages opening into said air-passage, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a furnace for burning carbona-ceous material, of the perforated plate over the fuel in the furnace, a mass of refractory incombustible material located on said plate, a second perforated plate over the refractory mass, and means for supplying air and evenly distributing the same through said mass, whereby all the gases are consumed and the sparks prevented from escaping, substantially as described.

5. The combination, in a furnace for burning carbonaceous material, of a mass of re- IOO IIO

fractory-incombustiblematerial located in the line of draft,` Whereby the products of combustion, dac., pass through' the same, means for supporting said refractory material, and air-supply chambers located Within the incombustible material' for evenly distributing air thereto, substantially as described.

6. In a heating apparatus, the combination of thecoal-space, the grate therefor, and opening into said coal-space, whereby coal may be introduced into the same, apertures for the introduction of air to said coal-space, a combining-chamberbeyond said coal-space in "the line of draft of the apparatus partially filled with incombustible matter in pieces With interstioes .between them, into which the gases from the coal areadapted to pass, supports for said incombustible matter, air-inlets leading into 'the space occupied by said in- E, F. EDGAR.

Witnesses:

A. G. N. VERMILYA, H. M. 'VERMILYA 

